Strangers Gather To Bury Bella Bond, The Girl Known As Baby Doe — ‘She’s At Peace Now’

A little girl named Bella N. Bond-Amoroso, who for months was known to the world only as Baby Doe, was laid to rest Saturday in a seaside Massachusetts town.

Her funeral and burial were private, but a memorial service held afterward was attended by the public, including dozens of people from Winthrop — a small town that embraced the little girl as one of their own after her body was found.

Winthrop Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty stood among many mourners as Bella, only 2, was laid to rest. Afterward, he told The Boston Globe “The message was that she’s in God’s hands. Today is a sad day, but also a day that we can finally say that she’s at rest.”

The man who is prosecuting the girl’s mother, Rachelle Bond, and her ex-boyfriend, Michael McCarthy in connection with Baby Doe’s death, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, also attended the services.

Five months ago, the remains of Baby Doe, later identified as Bella Bond, washed up on the shore of Boston Harbor Beach in a plastic bag, The Associated Press added. According to police, McCarthy, 35, allegedly killed the child and Bond, 40, helped him dispose of the body by throwing it into the ocean off South Boston.

Report sheds more light on sad, short life of Baby Doe and her troubled mother https://t.co/PNi4GC6asS pic.twitter.com/XrV9UkCX5C

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) October 29, 2015

When her body was discovered on June 25, she was wearing black and white polka dot leggings, and had a zebra print blanket with her. Until she was identified in September, her face was a computer-generated composite image.

For House Speaker, and Winthrop resident, Robert DeLeo, who organized the ceremony, the child’s public burial provided a loving and comforting end to a tragically short life ended by violence, according to CBS Local.

“I think that gives us some good feeling. She can look down and say that she was loved, and that she was loved by an awful lot of people.”

Baby Doe’s private funeral was held at the Caggiano Funeral Home; the family had initially planned a public funeral, but her mother requested that it be kept private. A private graveside service was held afterward.

The private service for Baby Doe was presided over by pastor Kurt Lange, who, during the funeral, prayed for justice for Bella, asking that her death not be in vain.

“Children are incredibly important to God,” Lange said. “Today we can rest assured that Jesus has Bella in his arms and she will be mercifully and eternally protected in those arms.”

The public was allowed to pay its respects during a memorial Mass that followed these private ceremonies. It was held at St. John the Evangelist Church and presided over by the Rev. Charles Bourke, who described Baby Doe’s acceptance by the people of Winthrop as similar to that of the Pilgrims.

“Unknown at the time, but now known as little Bella Bond, our special angel, the community of Winthrop and beyond welcomed her with warmth and offered whatever support they could. Baby Bella was buried here in Winthrop… and is now finally at rest.”

Bella was buried in a christening gown donated by a local dress shop owner who always wanted, but never had, children. Baby Doe was laid to rest with four toys and a donated quilt assembled from squares given by people from all over the country.

Buried alongside her paternal great-grandmother, Lola M. Amoroso, who died in 1984, Baby Doe’s gravestone was emblazoned with her picture and her casket covered in a pink and white vault cover adorned with a raised relief of a silver baby doe, her name and her date of birth. Her date of death — the day her remains were found.

Bella Bond buried in Winthrophttps://t.co/83P0WKaITu pic.twitter.com/Q3wSgC7Jk3

— Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) November 28, 2015

Also among the mourners: the father Bella never knew, Joseph Amoroso. He wore ribbons decorated with black-and-white polka dots and zebra stripes, in memory of his daughter, and said goodbye with a kiss to his hand, which he placed on the coffin.

“The whole country, the whole world knew and cared about what happened to this poor girl,” said local Lane Forman. “She’s at peace now.”

[Photo Via YouTube]